Who We Are

 

BEKI invites Jews of all ages, races, and gender identities, without regard to economic status or level of Jewish learning. Our warm, engaging, egalitarian community is a joyous home for all Jews in Greater New Haven.  

BEKI believes in taking a robustly welcoming stance toward interfaith families. Coming from an interfaith and multi-racial family himself, Rabbi Woodward considers the inclusion of non-Jewish relatives in the community to be deeply important

BINA, our religious school, provides religious education for students in grades K-6. Open to children regardless of synagogue affiliation, BINA stresses excellence in supplemental education and maintains small class size. BINA is a Hebrew word that means “understanding,” and that’s what our religious school aims for: a deep and ever-growing understanding of Jewish tradition and how each child fits within it. Our school brings together a diverse group of students for the purpose of learning the fundamentals of living a full Jewish life, such as Hebrew language, Jewish history, holiday rituals, values, and prayer.

Rabbi Eric Woodward became the spiritual leader in June 2021. BEKI today is a growing congregation with well over three hundred member families. Most of our members live in New Haven, and one exciting trend is the large group of members who have moved to the neighborhood of Westville to be close to, even within walking distance, of the shul. Members also live in the downtown, East Rock, and Beaver Hills neighborhoods, as well as in numerous suburban towns. Some are rabbis and professors of Jewish studies; some are brand-new to Judaism. Opportunities abound for every BEKI member to contribute time, talents, and ideas.

Many of our members are gerim, converts to Judaism (also known as Jews by choice). We welcome Jews in loving partnerships with non-Jews, and we consider it a core principle to be welcoming to all people.

To find out more about BEKI, join us for services and lunch on Saturday, or one of our other services, classes, or events. We invite you to explore our calendar. We look forward to meeting you!